Manti Te'o saga shed light new world of human interaction

8:45 PM,
Jan. 18, 2013

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o reacts to a play during an Oct. 20 game against BYU. A story that Te'o's girlfriend had died of leukemia ? a loss he said inspired him to help lead the Irish to the BCS championship game ? was dismissed by the university this week as a hoax perpetrated against the linebacker.

Written by

Mike Lopresti
USA Today

As the Manti Te'o mess zigs this way and zags that, we see the workings of a true 21st century scandal. But first, let me tweet about that ?

In the end, this is not about a Notre Dame linebacker. Manti Te'o will come and go, whatever his fate. This is about human interaction, and what's become of it. A world where emoticons substitute for emotions, and to get a glimpse of a person's heart, forget looking into the eyes. Just look at your screen.

Where you can have the deepest and richest relationships. Friendship. Support. Romance. Love. Even better if the people on the other end are really who they say ...